By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich-On Monday night, during a special meeting the school board of trustees interviewed two companies for construction management services for the facilities bond project.
In November the school board of trustees voted 7-0 to move forward with the exploration of a district bond and/or sinking fund for possible vote in November 2019. On Oct. 15, district building and site committee had gathered with the school district attorney to discuss the district’s facility needs.
Representatives from Pontiac based Auch Construction and Southfield based Barton Malow each provided the board information regarding their respective company. The construction management teams are responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion.
A decision on the construction management team should be in February, said Ryan Relken, district superintendent.
“The next step will be for an architect,” said Relken. “Currently, space at Reid and Oaktree elementary buildings are maxed out, the numbers (of students) are returning and our School of Choice (enrollment) in kindergarten alone is at 40 right now. Parents are seeing what’s going on in Goodrich and want to be a part of it. In addition, the facilities at the middle and high schools are not at the level the need to be.”
The timeline for the project is possibly going to the State Treasury in July for a November vote.

“These dates are not firm,” he said.
According to the Michigan Association of School Boards a sinking fund millage is assessed every year for however many years the funds are approved. With bond issues, the district receives all the funds from the assessed mills upfront and then it is paid back over a number of years.
Over the last year the district administration team has been looking into options to support the future educational needs of students in the district, upgrade technology, keep a safe learning environment and maintaining facilities.
“The district would like to move forward with exploring options to support these endeavors,” said Relken. “This exploration process will included consulting an architecture firm, creating a construction management team, formation of a steering committee, creating a facilities study outline, formulation of a project scope and costs analysis along with a citizen’s committee.”
Goodrich voters approved a $15.4 million bond extension in February 2011 with 930 yes votes (52 percent) to 847 no (48 percent). About 23 percent of registered voters turned out. A total of 1,777 votes were cast. There were 7,547 registered voters in the school district, including 6,607 voters in Genesee County and 940 voters in Lapeer County. The funding supported educational facilities, 41 percent; technology, 30 percent; athletics, 13 percent; energy upgrades, 11 percent; and safety/ADA, 5 percent.